Dice
 
 
 
 
 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Out in the country, you'll still here 'knowed' plenty. I use it myself when I feel like it. 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Out in the country, you'll still here 'knowed' plenty. I use it myself when I feel like it. 

Pronunciation

[NOHd]

Meaning & Usage

- Past tense of know (verb)

Mae:
How’d you catch him fibbin’?
Earl:
I just knowed it.

- Emphatic form with "done" (verb)

Mae:
You didn’t trust him?
Earl:
Nope - I done knowed better.
variations: knew, done knowed, already knowed, knowed better, knowed all along, knowed good and well
★ "Knowed" often shows up with "done" for emphasis: *"I done knowed."* That combo is especially Appalachian/Southern. ★

Origin and Etymology

An older English past form of "know" that faded in standard speech but survived in Appalachian and Southern dialects. The structure echoes other preserved forms like "holp" (helped).

Usage Notes

Still widely heard in rural Southern and Appalachian speech. Considered "nonstandard" in school grammar, but natural and common in everyday talk.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "nohd." Quick and clipped - often said with emphasis: "I done knowed that."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Is "knowed" wrong grammar?
In standard English, yes - but in dialect it’s a natural survival of older forms.
Do people still say "knowed" today?
Absolutely - it’s common in rural areas and among older generations.
What’s the difference between "knew" and "knowed"?
Meaning is the same; "knowed" is the dialect form. Sometimes used for extra emphasis.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 3). Knowed. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/knowed
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Knowed." HillbillySlang.com, 3 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/knowed.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Knowed." HillbillySlang.com. September 3, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/knowed.
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